Christopher Newgent: Hoosier Indie Literature Hero

Photo courtesy of Indy Star.com

Alumnus Christopher Newgent has been getting a lot of attention lately. If you attended the second night of the In Print Festival of First Books, you may have heard Artifice Magazine editor James Tadd Adcox drop his name when discussing things young writers can do to be involved in the literature world. Newgent was recently featured in an article for the Indy Staras well. What’s all the buzz about Christopher Newgent? He is the progenitor of Vouched—part reading series, part blog, and part indie lit vendor. Vouched exists “to spread and promote small press literature by peddling literary wares at art events and farmers/flea markets around Indianapolis,” according to Newgent. He states, “Every book on my table is a book that I’ve personally read and enjoyed and want other people to read and enjoy.”

That last line explains where Vouched gets its name. Newgent only peddles literature he’s passionate about, and when you’re at a Vouched table, you have the refreshing feeling of knowing you can ask the him anything about his titles and he will have an answer. He exudes excitement, and this makes him approachable and helps to create a whole Vouched experience that is especially positive.

Newgent’s innovative project provides a breath of fresh air in the bookselling world, especially for those interested in contemporary literature. Vouched has even gained so much support that it has begun to spread to other states. Laura Relyea, another BSU alumnus, is working on launching her own Vouched table in Atlanta, Georgia. There’s also talk of another table getting ready to spring up in Nashville, Tennessee. Of these new Vouched tables, Newgent says, “My plan for it is ultimately to allow each tabler to be autonomous, able to choose and stock their own vouched titles…” This means that each Vouched table operator will make their own choices as to which books they sell. By allowing this freedom of choice, Newgent is ensuring every seller will have that same, trademark Vouched passion, which has been instrumental in the project’s success.

You can find Newgent and his table at First Fridays at Big Car Gallery, occurring on the first Friday of every month. Vouched Presents, a reading series, is having its fourth event on May 15th, and will feature BSU professor Peter Davis and Michael Schaivo. There will be another Vouched Presents reading on July 18th, featuring DOGZPLOT, an online literary journal. Newgent sets up his table at other events here and there as well, which he posts about at Vouched Online.